Bowling alley construction



Jan. 31, 1961 P; A. DE VORE 2,969,983

BOWLING ALLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 14, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 -1 IHHIIILIIHLU umumm 1 IN VEN TOR.

PAUL A DE VORE Atwrpej Jan. 31, 1961 P. A. DE VORE BOWLING ALLEYCONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1956 39 L46 as 4 INVENTORPAUL. A. DsVons [2% Runway Jan. 31, 1961 P. A. DE .VORE 2,969,983

BOWLING ALLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 14, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 PAUL ADEVORE IN VEN TOR.

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llmmqy United States Fatent C a BOWLING ALLEY CONSTRUCTION Paul A. DeVere, 3326 Glenway Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed Nov. 14, 1956, Ser. No.622,193

14 Claims. (Cl. 273-51) This invention relates to improvements inbowling alleys and particularly to the construction thereof in thesecuring of the bowling alley surface boards.

As is well known bowling alleys are formed of a relatively large numberof relatively narrow boards laid side by side with the edge grainupwardly. In the past the said boards were connected to one another by atongue and groove and by means of a multiplicity of nails nailing eachboard in face contact with the board on one side thereof.

The surface of the alley becomes dented, grooved and otherwise marreddue to the throwing and rolling thereon of a bowling ball which hasconsiderable weight and is thrown with considerable force.

The surface of the bowling alley, therefore, requires relativelyfrequent removal by sanding resulting in the surface of the alleyreaching to the tongue and groove of the boards as well as to thenails'securing the boards to one another. This condition is reached infrom 20 to 25 years and the boards are cut and worn away toapproximately one-half of their height and requiring a completereplacement of the said boards, even though the remaining half of theoriginal boards would, except for the tongues and grooves and nails,provide just as smooth and desirable surface as they initially provided.

The cost of an alley for bowling purposes is quite expensive even with alife of from 20 to 25 years.

The use of nails for the securing of the boards to one another sometimesresults in an immediate splitting thereof and further results in thesplitting of the boards upon repeated impact of a bowling ball on thesurface of the alley.

By the present invention the boards are not secured in face contact bymeans of nails or the like wherefore the difficulties as heretoforeencountered are eliminated.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a bowling alley in which the boards are retained in operativerelation to one another and to a supporting structure without the use ofmaterial damaging means such as nails, screws or the like.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a bowling alley inwhich the boards are of considerably less height than heretoforeemployed for thereby reducing the cost of material initially used inmaking the alley and which material is all replaceable at a considerablesavings in cost over the replacement; of full height boards as it wasnecessary heretofore.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a bowlingalley having its boards secured inoperable position by means that tendto inhibit the Splitting thereof whereby a more perfect surface isretained on the bowling alley for a greater period of time.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a bowling alley with asolid and relatively non-yielding bed will be readily apparent byreference to the following:

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specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, and it is to be understood that anymodifications may be made in the exact structural details there shownand described, within the scope of the appended claims, withoutdeparting from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a bowling alley having portions removed in theinterest of clearness of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view completely across the bowlingalley as seen from line 2--2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a bowling alley with parts removed to show thebuild-up in the construction of the alley.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a bowling alley ofthe present invention illustrating the details of construction as seenfrom line 4-4 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the pit end of thebowling alley and illustrating details of construction therein.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of an alley under constructionand illustrating a method of constructing the alley in accordance withthe present invention.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view completely across a bowling alley,similar to Fig. 2, illustrating, however, the construction of an alleyas presently and heretofore employed.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating theconstruction of the alley of Fig. 7 as rebuilt employing the principlesand means of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to Fig. 3, illustrating thebuild-up of a replacement alley such as illustrated in cross-section inFig. 8.

Throughout the several views of the drawings similar referencecharacters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

A bowling alley as viewed by the user and illustrated in Fig. 1 iscomposed of a runway or players section 10 extending from the end 11 ofthe alley to the foul line 12 which, in turn, extends entirely acrossthe alley proper and indicated by the reference numeral 13. The runway10 extends across the alley proper and across the gutters 14 and 15located respectively on each side and for the full length of the alleyproper 13.

The' other end of the alley terminates in a pit 16 in which the pin boyis located who returns the ball to the player and arranges the ten-pinsfor the player. In the case of the so-called automatic pin spotters themechanism therefor is located in the aforementioned pit 16.

The alley proper, inwardly of the foul line 12, is provided with what isknown as a dovetail 17 and terminates forwardly of the pit 16 with asecond dovetail 18. The dovetails while of considerable length are ofconsiderably less length than the alley portion located between saiddovetails. The said dovetails are made up of alternate short and longboards, at the foul line end of the alley being respectively indicatedby reference numerals 19 and 20 and at the pit end of the alley byreference numerals 21 and 22. Due to the excessive wear on the runway 10and similar wear on thefoul line and pit end dovetails they are formedof hard wood such as maple while the balance of the alley, that portionbetween the dovetails, is made of softer wood such as pine.

The visible portion of the alley must of necessity be supported on asound foundation and comprises, gen erally, a concrete slab 23 on whichis disposed longitudinally extending stringers 24, generally three innumher, with one located at each longitudinal edge of the alley properand the third substantially centrally of the alley proper. Secured tothe said stringers 24 and extending transversely thereof are thetransverse members or beams 25 equally spaced on definite centersthroughout the length of the alley from the outer end of the runway tothe pit, with said tranverse members or beams of a length to extendentirely across the alley proper as well as beneath the gutters.

In the past, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the foundation, comprising theconcrete slab 23, stringers 24, and crossbeams 25, has mounted directlythereon the boards which make up the runway or approach and alley proper13 which boards, as indicated above, are of relatively 'narrow'width andare mounted to have the edge grain thereof forming the playing surface.The said boards are generally 39 in number and are indicated by thereference numeral 26. These boards are approximately two andthree-fourths inches (2%") in height and, as noted above, are eachprovided on one side thereof fon'its full length with a groove 27 andare provided on the opposite side, again for the full length, with atongue 28 with the exception of the two end boards. The said boards arearranged in face contact with the tongue of one board interfitting inthe groove of the adjacent board and the said boards are nailed togetherin succession to build up a length or section of the alley whereuponthey are laid as a unit into position. The alley section may be built'up from either the right or the left hand side and the nails driventhrough the boards either directly through their tongue and grooveconnection or immediately above or immediately below, the preferablemethod now employed being to drive the nails through the tongue andgroove connection. It is understood that the nails of successive boardswould be offset in the direction of the length thereof so thatsucceeding hails are not interfered with by the previously driven ones.

Beneath the alley proper and on the cross-beams is preferably arrangedan insulating layer of cork or of a manufactured product such asCelutex. The insulating length and breadth to fully underlie the boards25, especially if said material is employed as a shield against moisturefrom beneath the alley, but if the said insulating material is usedprimarily as a sound deadener it may .material may take the form of afull carpet,-t hat is, of a 1 take the form of a strip such asillustrated at 29 in Fig. 9,

disposed solely on the cross-beams 25.

The alley sections are secured to the cross-beams 25 by means of screws30 which are driven at an angle to the longitudinal egdes of the alleysections, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Outwardly' of each gutters 14 and 15 which are formed in any suitable ordesirable manner, such as illustrated in the drawings, and, namely, ofthree separate boards joined to one another of the side alley boards arethe' and hollowed out in the form of a gutter. The said guttersarerespectively secured in place by having one side thereof nailed orotherwise suitably secured to its adjacent end board and having itsother side nailed or suitably secured to longitudinally extendingseparator boards 31 and 32. Y

' The alley as illustrated in Fig. 7 is subjected to wear by the bowlingball which causes indentations and grooves which must be planed orsanded from the upper surface necessitating the entire upper surface ofthe alley being the alley descends to the tongue and grooves therein orto the joining nails when they are located above the said tongues andgrooves which determines the life of the alleys. The alley boards arealso subject to damage due subjected to the same treatment. In time thesurface of from the alleys. The said catching of the mop causessplinters to be pulled from the edges and corners of the boards whichcombines with the bowling ball damage for rendering the playing surfaceundesirable.

The repeated resurfacing of the boards 26 to the point of exposing thejoining nails and tongues and grooves necessitates the completereplacement of the alley boards even though approximately one-half ofthe said boards are still in usable condition and, in the main, could befinished to provide a surface equal to that originally .on the alley.

The alley of the present invention is provided by utilizing boards of awidth or height that are slightly greater in height than one-half of theheight of those used in the past and in mounting said boards on a solidsurface, base or table that is secured to the foundation.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the present ininventioncontemplates the use of a plywood sub-table or base 33 which wouldextend for the full length of the alley and have a width greater thanthe width of the alley proper although its width may be limited to thewidth of the alley proper or the distance between the outer edges of thealley side boards 34 and 35. The said subbaseboard 33 is secured alongits edges to each of the transverse beams 25 by means of screws 36 and37 with said screws passing through and securing end supporting blocks38 and 39 simultaneously to the said beams 25. The said sub-base 33 issupported substantially mid-way of its width by a block 40 and throughwhich sub-base 33 and block 40 securing means may be employed but whichparts are preferably secured as will later be made clear.

Disposed on said sub-baseboard 33 is a second or upper baseboard 41which, similar to the sub-baseboard of the longitudinally extending sideboards 34 and 35.

The baseboard 41 is secured to the sub-baseboard 33 by 40 screws42 and43 located near its opposite side edges and preferably directly overeach cross-beam 25. The center of the said baseboard 41, sub-baseboard33 and center supporting block 46 are secured to one another and to eachcross-beam by means of a center screw 44.

It should be noted that the said composite base 33-41 has insulation,cork, Celutex, or other approved material, in the form of strips 45 and4 6 on each crossbeam and respectively between supporting blocks 38 and40 and 39 and 49. It is to be understood that this insulating materialmay be inthe form of a full length carpet with cut-outs to accommodatethe said blocks 38, 39 and 40.

f baseboard 33 which project laterally of the upper base board 41, saidportions being indicated by the reference numerals 48 and 49, haveapplied thereto, respectively, adhesive 50 and 51. The upper surface ofthe upper base-board 41 has likewise applied thereto adhesive 52 andwhich adhesive 50, 51 and 52 securely holds the alley boards 47 as wellas the side. boards 34 and 35 in operative relation to one another andto the supporting base.

to the splitting of the boards along the grain thereof which wasweakened due to the pounding into the boards of the connecting nails andwhich grain weakening further results from the pounding of the ballbeing resisted by the said nails and permitting a give in the boards oneach side of the nails and which yielding causes a fracture in the grainand the catching thereof in the polishing and cleaning mop usedperiodically in removing surface 'dust Outwardly of each alley sideboard 34 and 35, and

in order to hold said side boards in position, the projecting portion 48of the. lower base board 33 has secured thereto a side board retainingstrip 7*!) which is glued and nailed in operative position against alleyside board 35, while the projecting portion 49, at the other side of thealley, has glued and nailed thereto a side boaid lretaining strip 71.

The said retaining strips 70 and 'll are illustrated in the drawings astriangular in cross section simply because the particular alleyconstruction illustrated in the drawings requires this formyit isunderstood that strips of any other cross-section may be employed withother types of gutter construction.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the adhesive 50 as well as the adhesive 51 and52 penetrates the adjacent surfaces of the boards in establishing a bondbetween them; the full significance of this will be apparent from thesubsequent description of the method of laying or building the alley. I

An improved method of finishing the pit end of the alley is required andresults from the present construction and which is illustrated in Fig. 5and comprises a transverse end member or plank 53 having an offset orrabbet 54 formed in one corner thereof which acts as a chair forsupporting the ends of the base boards 33 and 41 and which transversemember or plank 53 is utilized for securing thereto the pit board 55.

The mounting of the alley boards '47 as well as the alley side boards 34and 35 is accomplished as illustrated in Fig. 6. After the base boards33 and 41 are secured by the screws 36, 37 and 40 the glue or adhesive50 and 51 is applied for the distance corresponding to the section ofthe alley to be laid whereupon the side boards 34- and 35 are mountedand respectively retained in place by their respective retaining strips70 and 71. The adhesive 52 is then applied to the upper surface of theupper base board 41, again for the distance corresponding to the sectionof the alley to be laid, whereupon one-half, less one board, of thealley boards 47 are then arranged in face contact inwardly from each ofsaid side boards thereby leaving a space 56 longitudinally of the alleyand substantially at the center of the alley between the boards. A barclamp 57 and 53 is then applied to said -m0unted boards for clampingeach half of the alley boards to one another and to its side board withsaid bar clamps each having its fixed end or shoe 59 located in thecenter space 56 and with its movable end or jaw 60 against the outersurface of its side board.

Disposed entirely across the alley boards and side boards is a plankol-having disposed thereabove a second plank 62. The plank 62 has itsends projecting beyond the plank 61 and beyond the alley side boards 34and 35. Said ends of the plank 62 are in alignment with a transversebeam 25 and the said plank 62 and beam 25 are connected through wires 63and 64, there being one of such wires at each end of the plank 62. Aplurality of wedges 65 are then driven between the planks 61 and 62which, since the plank 62 has its upward movement stopped by the wires63 and 64 causes the plank 61 to forcefully press the alley boards 47and the side boards 34 and 35 against the adhesive on the base boards 33and 41. The parts are retained in this position until the adhesive hasthoroughly hardened for permanently and completely securing the alleyboards, side boards and base boards to one another.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 the adhesive disposed on the base boards 33 and41 is to a certain extent forced between the contacting surfaces of saidboards uponthe placement thereof for thereby not only securing thecontacting lower surfaces of the alley boards and side boards and 62 areemployed at each cross-beam 25 and that one or more of each of the barclamps 57 and 58 is employed between each pressing down mechanism sothat the "entire surface of the alley is properly and adequately securedto the base which in turn was adequatelysecured to the supportingfoundation.

After the, parts just described have been secured in i position andtheadhesive has hardened or dried the ce r opening 5 b en the. eyhalves,has. fittedv thereinto the, central alley board which is adequatelyglued, or adhesiyely secured in place by methods well known.

The base supporting blocks 33, 3 9 and 4t} afford a support for thealley that could advantageously be used with the heretofore method ofmounting alleys such as illustrated in Fig. 7. With the construction ofFig. 7 extreme care must be exercised in planing and sanding the alleysurface since such operations require considerable downward force orpressure on the planing and sanding tools and which are frequently,particularly the sander, of considerable weight even to the extent ofcausdeflection in the alley due tocornpression of the insulating carpetor strips 29 at the sides of the alley and at the center thereof andwhich deflection is fully and completely resisted by the blocks 38, 3 9and 40.

While the surface of the alley of the present invention as specificallyillustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, in clusive, is subjected to the same wearand tear of the bowling ball as described above in connection with thealley of Fig. 7, the absence of nails in the present constructionmaterially minimizes and in some instances completely eliminates thetendency of the alleyboards to split or splinter. The surface of thealley of the present invention nevertheless needs frequent replaning andresanding to eliminate imperfections therein, caused, as noted above, bythe bowling balls in normal use. It should however be noted that afterthe alley surface has been cut back to the upper baseboard 41 it is onlynecessary to replace the said alley boards 47 and the side boards 34 and35 without in any wise touching the supporting baseor foundation exceptto insure a smooth surface on the said upper base board 41.

From this it follows that the life of a major portion of the alley ismaterially extended beyond that of the construction and practiceheretofore employed. It should also be noted that the plywood baseboards 33 and 41 while providing just as sturdy and solid a constructionbelow the bowling alley surface as supplied by the full height boards 26of Fig. 7, the cost of such base boards is materially less than thedifference in cost of the full height alley boards 26 of Fig. 7 and thesubstantially one-half height alley boards 47 and the side boards 34 and35 of Fig. 2 thereby resulting in an alley initial cost considerablylower. It likewise follows that the, cost of replacing the worn-outportion of an alley as allustrated in Fig. 2 is considerably less thanreplacing, completely, an alley such as illustrated in Fig. 7 eventhough the foundation thereof is re-usable.

This invention contemplates the rebuilding of the alley of priorconstructions, and as illustrated in Fig. 7, after its iniital life hasbeen spent and such a construction is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9wherein the portion of the original alley boards 26 upon beingresurfaced to the tongue and grooves thereof or the securing nailsconstitutes or forms the base ofthe rebuilt alley, said remaining boardsor base being indicated in the drawings by the reference character 27.The said base or alley boards 27 are provided with a fiat smooth surfaceover which is then laid a single ply of wood 66, which is in the natureof one-eighth inch thick and of standard width. The said ply or basesurface 66 is laid with its grain running transversely of the alley andthe same is secured by suitable fastening means such as screws 67.

The upper surface of the said ply 66 is properly planed and sanded, toprovide a smooth surface whereupon it has applied thereto glue oradhesive 68 which serves the same purpose as the glue or adhesive 52applied to the upper surface of the upper base board 41. The new valleyboards 69 are then mounted on the base surfaceor ply 66 in the samemanner as above set forth, namely,

a by securing half of the alley inwardly of each side there therewith.It being understood that the central space, the space between the alleyhalves, being suitably closed by a final alley board glued and securedin position as above pointed out.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the improved bowling alley ofthe present invention, whether a new installation or a rebuilt alley,comprises a suitable and solid foundation to which is secured the alleybase and on which is glued the alley surface. In each installation, anoriginal alley or a rebuilt alley, the foundation comprises the concreteslab 23 on which is disposed the runners 24 having secured thereto thetransverse beams 25. The beams 25 in the rebuilt alleys having disposedthereon the insulating carpet or strips 29 while the said beams 25 in anoriginal alley installation have tacked thereto the blocks 38, 39 and 40with the insulating carpet or strips 4546 between said blocks. Disposedon the foundation in the original alley construction is the basecomprising the plywood base boards 33 and 41 which are each of the sizedesignated as three-fourths inch PA") plywood while on the foundation ofa rebuilt alley would be the remaining portion of the original alleyboards 27' together with the surface ply 66 and which boards 27' andsurface ply 66 constitutes or forms the base of the rebuilt alley. In anoriginal alley the said base would have glued thereto the surface alleyboards 47 along with the alley side boards 34 and 35 while in therebuilt alley the base would have glued thereto the alley boards 68.

In each instance the said alleys would then have applied along theirsides the gutters 14 and 15 of a form such as illustrated in thedrawings or any other desirable or acceptable form.

In view of the foregoing it is believed now evident that there has beenprovided a bowling alley construction which meets the objects initiallyset forth.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bowling alley construction the combination of a longitudinallyextending supporting foundation including a plurality of substantiallyequally spaced transversely extending cross members, a longitudinallyextending substantially smooth surfaced base secured on said foundationcross members, a plurality of supporting blocks secured between eachtransversely extending cross member and said base with one block at eachside edge of the base and one block located substantially centrally ofsaid base, and a plurality of longitudinally extending alley boardssecured to said base smooth surface.

2. In a bowling alley construction the combination of a longitudinallyextending supporting foundation including a plurality of longitudinallyextending stringers, a plurality of equally spaced transverselyextending cross members secured to and upwardly of said stringers, a

smooth surfaced base on said transversely extending cross membersandsecured thereto, a plurality of longitudinally extending alley boards onsaid base smooth surface, and adhesive securing said alley boards tosaid' base surface.

3. In a bowling alley construction the combination of a longitudinallyextending supporting foundation including a plurality of longitudinallyextending stringers, a

' a longitudinally extending supporting foundation including a pluralityof equally spaced transversely extending cross members, a smoothsurfaced base on said transversely extending cross members and securedthereto comprising an upper and a lower base board, said lower baseboard being of a width equal, at least, to the width ofthealley and saidupper base boardbeing ofa width 0 equal to the width of the alley lessthe width of the alley side boards, and alley boards running the fulllength of the alley and including the aforementioned alley side boardswith said alley boards secured to one another and to the base boards.

5. In a bowling alley construction the combination of a longitudinallyextending supporting foundation including a plurality of equally spacedtransversely extending cross members, a smooth surfaced base on saidtransversely extending cross members and secured thereto comprising anupper and a lower base board, said lower base board being of a widthequal, at least, to the width of the alley and said upper base boardbeing of a width equal to the width of the alley less the width of thealley side boards, alley boards running the full length of the alley andincluding the aforementioned alley side boards with said alley boardssecured to one another and to the base boards, and blocks between saidbase lower base board and each transversely extending cross member, oneblock at each side of the base and a block substantially cent-rallythereof and thereby providing a space below the base and above thetransversely extending cross members between said blocks.

6. In a bowling alley construction the combination of a longitudinallyextending supporting foundation including a plurality of equally spacedtransversely extending cross members, a smooth surfaced base on saidtransversely extending cross members and secured thereto comprising anupper and a lower base board, said lower base board being of a widthequal, at least, to the width of the alley and said upper base boardbeing of a width equal to the width of the alley less the width of thealley side boards, wherefore said lower base board projects outwardly ofsaid upper base board at each side thereof a distance equal to theWidth, at least, of an alley side board, alley boards running the fulllength of the alley and including the aforementioned alley side boards,adhesive between the projecting portions of the lower base board and thealley side boards for securing same to one another, and additionaladhesive between the alley boards intermediate the side boards and theupper surface of the upper base board for securing the same to oneanother.

7. In a bowling alley construction the combination of a longitudinallyextending supporting foundation including a plurality of equally spacedtransversely extending cross members, a smooth surfaced base on saidtransversely extending cross members and secured thereto comprising anupper and a lower base board, said lower base board being of a widthequal, at least, to the width of the alley and said upper base boardbeing of a width equal to the width of the alley less the width of thealley side boards, wherefore said lower base board projects outwardly ofsaid upper base board at each side thereof a distance equal,

- at least, to the width of an alley side board, blocks between saidbase lower base board and each transversely extending cross member, oneblock at each side of the base and a block substantially centrallythereof and thereby providing a space below the base and above thetransversely extending cross members between said blocks, alley boardsrunning the full length of the alley and including the aforementionedalley side boards, adhesive between the projecting portions of the lowerbase board and the alley side boards for securing same to one another,and additional adhesive between the alley boards intermediate the sideboards and the upper surface of the upper base board for securing thesame to one another.

8. In a bowling alley construction the combination of a. longitudinallyextending supporting foundation including a plurality of equally spacedtransversely extending cross members, a smooth surfaced base on saidtransversely extending cross members and secured thereto comprising anupper and a lower base board, said lower base board being of a widthequal, at least, to the width of the alley'and said upper base boardbeing of a width equal to the width of the alley less the width of thealley side 9 hoards, wherefore said lower base board projects outwardlyof said upper base board at each side thereof a distance equal, atleast, to the width of an alley side board, blocks between said baselower base board and each transversely extending cross member, one blockat each side of the base and a block substantially centrally thereof,insulation between the transversely extending cross members and theunder surface of the base and between the aforementioned blocks, alleyboards running the full length of the alley and including theaforementioned alley side boards, adhesive between the projectingportions of the lower base board and the alley side boards for securingsame to one another, and additional adhesive between the alley boardsintermediate the side boards and the upper surface of the upper baseboard for securing the same to one another.

9. In a bowling alley construction a foundation comprising a supportingsurface, longitudinally extending stringers on said supporting surfacesubstantially defining the width of the bowling alley and the centerthereof, transversely extending cross members equally spaced from oneanother throughout the length of the bowling alley, and supplementarysupporting blocks on each transversely extending cross member onelocated above each longitudinally extending stringer, an insulationstrip on each transversely extending cross member between the blocksthereon, and a bowling alley secured to the transversely extending crossmembers and including a base secured through the supporting blocks toeach cross member, longitudinally extending alley boards on the base,and adhesive for securing the alley boards to the base and to oneanother in face contact.

10. In a bowling alley construction a foundation comprising a supportingsurface, longitudinally extending stringers on said supporting surfacedefining the width of the bowling alley and the center thereof,transversely extending cross members equally spaced from one anotherthroughout the length of the bowling alley, and supplementary supportingblocks on each transversely extend-ing cross member one located aboveeach longitudinally extending stringer, an insulation strip on eachtransversely extending cross member between the blocks thereon, and abowling alley secured to the transversely extending cross members andincluding a base secured through the supporting blocks to each crossmember, said base including a lower base board of a width equal, atleast, to the width of the bowling alley as measured across the saidbowling alley and including side boards thereof, an upper base boardsecured to the lower base board of a Width equal to the width of thebowling alley as measured between the said alley side boards wherebysaid lower base board has an exposed portion longitudinally andoutwardly of the side edges of the upper base board, alley boardsincluding the alley side boards on and longitudinally of the supportingbase boards with said alley side boards on the projecting and exposedportions of the lower base board and the intermediate alley boards onthe upper base board, and means securing said alley boards to theirrespective base boards.

11. In a bowling alley construction a foundation comprising a supportingsurface, longitudinally extending stringers on said supporting surfacedefining, in general, the width of the bowling alley and the centerthereof, transversely extending cross members equally spaced from oneanother throughout the length of the bowling alley, and supplementarysupporting blocks on each transversely extending cross member onelocated above each longitudinally extending stringer, an insulationstrip on each transversely extending cross member between the blocksthereon, and a bowling alley secured to the transversely extending crossmembers and including a base secured through the supporting blocks toeach cross member, said base including-a lower base board of a widthequal, at least, to the width of the bowling alley as measured acrossthe said bowling alley and including side boards hereof, an upper baseboard secured to the'lower base sweet board of a widthvequa'lto thewidth of the bowling alley as measured between the said alley sideboards whereby said lower base board has an exposed portionlongitudinally and outwardly of the side edges of the upper base board,alley boards including the alley side boards on and longitudinally ofthe supporting base boards with said alley side boards on the projectingand exposed portions of the lower base board and the intermediate alleyboards on the upper base board, and adhesive on the exposed longitudinalportions of the lower base boa-rd and the upper surface and longitudinaledges of the upper base board securing the said alley side boards to theexposed surfaces of the lower base board and respectively to theadjacent edges of'the upper base board and securing the alley boardsbetween the alley side boards to the upper base board.

12. In a bowling alley construction the combination with a foundationincluding a plurality of equally spaced transversely extending crossmembers, alley boards on said transversely extending cross members forthe full length of the alley and of a combined width equal to the widthof the alley, said alley boards each having a connection with theadjacent alley board on each side thereof and said alley boards togetherhaving a surface just above the said connection of said alley boards toone another, of a wood ply secured to the upper surface of said alleyboards and with said wood ply having a smooth upper surface, additionalalley boards on said wood ply smooth upper surface, and adhesive betweensaid additional alley boards and wood ply smooth upper surface andbetween the faces of said additional alley boards securing the same toone another and to the wood ply upper surface.

13. The method of securing alley boards in operative position consistingin providing a smooth faced base of a width equal, at least, to thewidth of the alley including alley side boards and which base israbbeted at its sides to receive said alley side boards, covering saidbase including its rabbeted sides with'adhesive disposing an alley sideboard in each base rabbet, disposing alley boards in face contact withone another with adhesive therebetween in a group inwardly from eachalley side board and with said groups each in face contact with its sideboard and having adhesive therebetween, said groups extending inwardlyfrom its side of the alley base to a point short of the longitudinalcenter of the alley with said groups of alley boards spaced from oneanother at the said longitudinal center of the alley a distance equal tothe width of an alley board, pressing said alley boards to one anotherin said groups each including its side board, applying downward pressuresimultaneously to said groups through mechanism associated with eachtransversely extending cross member of a foundation located beneath thebase, maintaining said pressure on the alley boards until the adhesivesets, and fitting and adhesively securing the final alley boards in thespace between the groups.

14. The method of securing alley boards in operative position consistingin providing a smooth faced base of a width equal, at least, to thewidth of the alley including alley side boards and which base israbbeted at its sides to receive said alley side boards, covering saidbase including its rabbeted sides with adhesive disposing an alley sideboard in each base rabbet, disposing alley boards in face contact withone another with adhesive therebetween in a group inwardly from eachalley side board and with said groups each in face contact with its sideboard and having adhesive therebetween, said groups extending inwardlyfrom its side of the alley base to a point short of the longitudinalcenter of the alley with said groups of alley boards spaced from oneanother at the said longitudinal center of the alley a distance equal tothe width of an alley board, pressing said alley boards to one anotherin said groups each including its side board, applying downward pressuresimultaneously to said groups through mechanism associated with eachcated beneath the base, maintaining said pressure on the alley boardsuntil the adhesive sets, and fitting and adhesively securing the finalalley boards in the space between the groups, said mechanism forpressing the alley boards against the base including a pressuretransverse member upwardly of the alley boards and in vertical alignmentwith each foundation transversely extending cross member, tying eachsaid transversely extending of said pressure reacting transverse membersand its pressure transverse member for downwardly pressing the alleyboards.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,021,788 Mutter Apr. 2, 1912 1,099,419 Beatty June 9, 1914 1,859,284Blanchard et al. May 24, 1932 1,976,563 Johnsen et al. Oct. 9, 19342,204,321 Siegrist June 11, 1940 2,260,716 Kotler Oct. 28, 19412,754,122 Barnes July 10, 1956

